TMHS boys go 1-2 in tourney

Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2010

By Shaun T. Cox

Thunder Mountain dropped its final game of the McKinley Bank Holiday Tournament at Monroe Catholic on Wednesday 81-65 to eventual champion South Anchorage after an up-and-down affair that saw the Falcons' two big rallies come up short.

Thunder Mountain went 1-2 in the tournament, finishing in three-way tie for second place record-wise, but ending up fourth because of total points allowed.

"We played OK. We've got to figure how to show up and play a full game," coach John Blasco said Saturday. "We had some very good moments, and some not-so-good moments."

South jumped to an 18-point, 24-6, lead in the early going, but Thunder Mountain closed within 9 by the half.

The lead ballooned again in the third quarter, all the way to 25, before the Falcons made one last run in the fourth. TMHS got within 14 points with three minutes to go, but couldn't finish some crucial shots or make key defensive stops, coach John Blasco said via e-mail.

"Foul trouble was a factor, but mainly South just kept running for 32 minutes and we didn't keep up," Blasco said.

Cody Grussendorf led the Falcons (5-3) with 30 points, and made the All-Tournament team along with guard Reese Saviers.